Raul Aclan
New Jersey
(P.S. CD, kung i-translate mo sa English ay bahala ka na)

Thanks for these. Sorry I could not respond right away. Just got back from a short mission trip.

There was a small CFC group (5 couples) 250 Kms away na napabayaan. They were being handled by another unit closer to them and the leaders of that unit went to FFL. Then FFL, without explaining to them ano talagang nangyari, had started inviting them to meetings and such. That seems to be one of their strategy. Iniimbita nila and after a few meetings, naging FFL na din.

This group was not yet covenanted so we went over there to do CO. Their household head was resisting FFL. His argumentation was simple: “I will serve in the community where I received my baptism in the Holy Spirit.” Simple lang ho but pregnant with fundamental truths.

FFL’s approach has been to get people to say that since it is the same Lord we all serve, it does not really matter whether they go to FFL or CFC meetings. Of course, after going to a few of the FFL meetings, they get to be considered FFL. The reality of the organization is purposely blurred until you wake up one morning realizing you already belong to their organization.

The discussions we’ve had here that Joni summarized seems to me the macro view, i.e. looking at it from a global church view. These discussions clarified teachings of the Catholic Church. But while the church is also a concept, a spiritual idea subscribed to by a community of believers, it is also an organization. Other Christian denominations also claim to serve the same Lord we do but their organizations are dinstinctly different from the Catholic Church.

What we experienced yesterday was a micro view. That’s why it is important not to downplay the organization. When we say we are CFC we are not only talking about a spiritual call or an idea, we are also talking about the organization whose Statutes were approved by the Vatican.

We not only belong to a certain faith, we also belong to the organization that teaches that faith. FFL serves the same Lord as we do but they are a different organization than CFC. Their statutes have not been approved by the Vatican. This is exactly the same as other Christian denominations (Lutherans, etc.) who serve the same Lord as we do but do not belong to the organization called the Catholic Church. As such these denominations may not subscribe to the teachings we have been discussing here, for example the primacy of the Pope. In the same way, FFL does not subscribe to the organizational teachings of CFC, like the authority of the IC.

But the brother who declared that he will serve in the community in which he was baptized implied the organization. The organization that gave him his identity as CFC. By doing so, he was faithful to his covenant which spoke of loyalty to the community and to his brothers and sisters. Sadly, I cannot say that of those who are with FFL.

- TE

I will take your term of “hatred” as an “off-the-cuff” remark in its proper context – that is of mixed feelings of anger, sadness and disappointment of being “betrayed”. In all this, it is worthwhile to ponder what Aristotle says in that “it is the unexpected that reveals the true person”… It is even more worthwhile to ponder what TE said in his charism treatise that “Let us be who we are..That defines us…”. Bishop Reyes does not define us. FAP does not define us either. Neither do no Nonong, nor Carlos Palad, nor the multitude of Macias personalities out there.
Take heart bro. God’s justice ALWAYS prevails.

RET

I propose:

1. let them in FFL go ahead with their own GK and allow them still to make a “study in contrast”, the Spirit will make them know the real difference, anyway;

2. leave or close this thread about Frank’s village, but let us continue singing as suggested: that is a good theme there about a “WONDERFUL WORLD” and TE’s story on the monk and the scorpion. Well, perhaps give it a ‘nice’ satire: let the tune push up the level of discourse to one that encourages FFL to build GK villages more authentically… quite difficult, though, so just close the thread. Maybe the glitch will out…

Thank you.

CD, I haven’t saved my own copy of the WAY BACKWARD series cause I relied on the final drafts I published here. Two of the series were eventually ‘moderated’. Along with these,I want to keep personal file of ALL entries.

Sana hindi pa aabut sa “ceiling’ and entries, nor will the this precious blog be untimely disabled – before I make my own back-up.

GOD BLESS.

Nakakatawa ka naman, you’re speaking about this in one greatness of the Lord. You should settle this in proper place, not creating BLOG over this matter. Imagine you do not have enough evidence and yet you wrote things against whomever you can put based on your sources. Let me ask you this: How come your asking for unity and yet you created this. I don’t know if you will approved this, pero sana OO.

Calling all those who are knowledgable, adept at thise internet matters, please help!

The blog is making re-plays (re-posting) of comments made in the past days.

CD, hope you are in control.

Or is there are limit to the total blog entries? If so have we hit the ceiling?

Hope this little inconvenience won’t close down this blog spot.

SGD. Keep the Blog!